Disasters induced by natural and technological hazards affect millions of people every year worldwide, but much of their impact can be reduced through pro-active measures and planning.

The International Day for Disaster Reduction, held each year on 13 October, celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

Theme 2018: "Reducing Disaster Economic Losses."

The 2018 theme continues as part of the "Sendai Seven" campaign, centred on the seven targets of the Sendai Framework. This year focuses on Target C of the Sendai Framework, reducing disaster economic losses in relation to global GDP by 2030.

In 2017 alone, 9,000 lives were lost and 96 million people were affected by disasters due to floods, wildfires and earthquakes, causing €270 billion in combined losses - it was the second costliest year on record in terms of damages caused by natural hazards.

The 2018 International Day for Disaster Reduction focuses on diminishing the economic impact of disasters worldwide. The commemoration will provide an advocacy platform to highlight the economic consequences of failure to manage disaster risk, particularly for vulnerable groups in low and middle-income countries.

Education:

We cannot afford to ignore the knowledge available to us; instead, we must expand on and integrate knowledge and expertise wherever they may be found.With the climate change intensifying, schools must consider to include into school curriculum natural disasters and its consequences.

Today in Portugal Leslie Hurricane is coming, after by passing Madeira island. The storm passed to the north of Madeira, and now strikes Portugal as a likely post-tropical cyclone on this Saturday evening until Sunday morning.

In Portugal, Leslie Hurricane is the worst natural disaster we had until now. Dangerous, extremely severe wind gusts at landfall – even in excess of 200 km/h! This undoubtedly means devastating winds for parts of southern and north of Portugal with gusts of 150 Km/h and waves of 10 meters high.

The schools are closed by the weekend, but next Monday, students will talk about Leslie Hurricane, the worst in the last 176 years.

It is impossible not to talk about such tragic events in school curriculum. Students will be frightened or curious next Monday.

I know, it's a delicate subject, students must not panic, but it's important to prepare children and young people to natural disasters that are happening more often and help them to be prepared to reduce the consequences and be resilient.

There are always shocking images on television, social media, videos and photos running on the internet and television. Some of them will take some shots or make little videos with their smartphones.

To us Portuguese people it's the first time we feel a hurricane. Until now, we watched these events as a distant problem. Not anymore.

Portugal is now on the roots of hurricanes. Leslie in 2018. Lorenzolast September 2019 in Azores.

Hurricane Lorenzo reached Portugal’s Azores islands early on , causing power outages and knocking down trees across the mid-Atlantic archipelago.The hurricane, packing 90-mile per hour (150 kph) winds, was likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, with only a slow weakening forecast over the next 48 hours, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

Climate change is everywhere. Students must be informed to prevent worst consequences during natural disasters. They will make questions. And teachers will be prepared to answer, and explain. Don't forget to have some good digital resources.

Resources: AppsI-React an app to help to be prepared and to have all the tools we need to fight against disasters. The app also includes a set of tips & quizzes on what to do before, during and after a weather-related emergency. All of this in your pocket!I-REACT is an innovation project funded by the European Commission to aim to use social media, smartphones and wearables to improve natural disaster management.Updated 12 October 2018. Watch the video and details here.

Some thoughts:"Making infrastructure more climate-resilient can have a benefit-cost ratio of about six to one. For every dollar invested, six dollars can be saved. This means that investing in climate resilience creates jobs and saves money."UN Secretary-General António Guterres, October 2019

Education for Disaster Reduction (DRR) takes into account the relationships between society, environment, economy, and culture and their impacts.

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Recent Publications

Souto, G. (2013) Time for Action: New Challenges in Secondary Education. At Conference Proceedings, International Conference The Future of Education, Florence, Italy.

Souto, G. (2013) Visionary Learning for 2030: Secondary Education. In Booklet online "Vision on Open Education 2030 Part 2: School Education", European Commission and The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS).

TEDxKids Brussels 2011

Gina Souto was guest tweeting from TEDxKids in Brussels on June 1st."48 kids, all of them born in 2000, are going get their hands dirty, soldering, tinkering, hacking and composing. A series of hands-on workshops will introduce the kids to a range of skills and methods.

At the same time 400 adults will be treated to an all day program of leading thinkers, experts and makers."

The twitter address is @TEDxKidsEU and there was a fantastic live stream from the event.